Spacer for car loaded boxes



Feb. 10, 1953 K. E. RION 2,627,830

SPACER FOR CAR LOADED BOXES Filed Dec. 9. 1949 2 SI-IEETSSl-IEET 1 Attorney In 'umtur Attorney K. E. mow 2,627,820

SPACER FOR CAR LOADED oxas ZSHEETS-SHEET 2 llA/L E. R/ON By y W fie! Feb. 10, 1953 Filed Dec. 9. 1949 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPACER 110R CAR LOADED BOXES Kail E. Rion, Langhorna Pa. I

Application December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,101

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a spacer for car loaded boxes and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

The present invention is particularly adapted to be utilized in the loading of containers whose sides have a tendency to bulge, particularly those containers for fruit and vegetables which are formed with slatted sides. In the loading of such containers into box cars, for example, one of the problems encountered is that of allowing sufficient air passages around and between such containers so that in the precooling operations there will be sufiicient circulation of air to reach all of the articles of fruit and/or vegetables in such containers to a more or less equal degree. The invention consists simply in the provision of a block of generally rectangular shape whose longer sides are provided with centrally disposed outwardly extending ears to each of which may be affixed by nails or the like a longitudinally extending bar. The block and ears are adapted to engage the upper corner portions of adjacent containers while the bars rest upon the containers so that spacing is afforded laterally between adjacent containers and also vertically. In another form the invention may assume, the ears are eliminated and a bar is afi'ixed to the block centrally thereof and in parallel relation to the first two mentioned bars.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character set forth which will provide means whereby air may be circulated upon all sides of containers with which the device may be used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character set forth having a minimum number of parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character set forth which may be manufactured from cheap, easily obtained or even scrap material.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention shown in use with a plurality of containers,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of the device shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a modified form the invention may assume, and

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken along line of Figure 6,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a block In which is rectangular in shape and which is centrally provided upon each of its longer sides with an integrally formed laterally extending ear H. To the upper face of each of the ears I is affixed by means of nails I2 or the like an elongated bar l3 which bars extend in a direction parallel to the longer sides of the block Ill.

In use, it will be apparent that the spacing device above described may be so placed that the main body of the block lies between the longer sides M of containers l5, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 2 of the drawings, and that the ears U will abut the shorter sides orends H; of such containers and that the bars I3 will lie atop the containers l5 and beneath additional containers and underlie the bottoms of additional containers |5 which may be placed thereover. It will also be apparent that the bars It will allow an air space to be formed between the successive vertically aligned containers i5 while the block Ill and its ears U will cause an air space to be formed upon all sides of the containers.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is provided a similar device but in which the ears II are eliminated by the provision of an additional bar. In this form of the invention there is provided a block 20 of rectangular shape to the upper side of which adjacent each of its shorter sides is affixed elongated bars 2| by means of nails 22 or the like. Centrally affixed to the bottom of the block 20 by means of nails 23 or the like is an elongated bar 24 which is identical in size to and parallel with the bars 2|.

In this form of the invention it will be apparent that the bars 2| will overlie the containers I5 and thus cause the block 20 to separate the containers in one direction while the bar 24 will cause the containers to be separated in the other direction while the bars 2| not only act to support the device but also to separate the vertically aligned containers I5.

While but two forms of the invention have been shown and described'herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising a block of generally rectangular shape, a laterally extending ear formed integrally and centrally upon each of the longersides of said block, and an elongated bar afilxed to each of the ears in parallel relation to the longer sides of said block.

KAIL E. RION.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,256 Hoak Jan. 26, 1943 1,993,216 Marshall Mar. 5, 1935 2,341,088 Ellis Feb. 8, 1944 10 2,442,932 Nalbandian June 8, 1948 

